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Architecture & Design

Are you looking to be inspired by some of the finest designers and architects? You find a wide selection of fascinating architecture and design books at Tales. The design books can inspire you to renew your style or house, but you can also use them in your creative process both as a student or professional. If you are more into buildings and the process behind them, take a look at our architecture books that will take you around the world to the most wonderful and groundbreaking buildings on Earth. All of them will look good on your coffee table.
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  • Save 26%
     
    £21.49

    Described by The New York Times as, "a treasure of fashion insiders," Take Ivy was originally published in Japan in 1965, setting off an explosion of American-influenced "Ivy Style" fashion among students in the trendy Ginza shopping district of Tokyo. The product of four sartorial style enthusiasts, Take Ivy is a collection of candid photographs shot on the campuses of America's elite, Ivy League universities. The series focuses on men and their clothes, perfectly encapsulating the unique academic fashion of the era. Whether lounging in the quad, studying in the library, riding bikes, in class, or at the boathouse, the subjects of Take Ivy are impeccably and distinctively dressed in the finest American-made garments of the time. Take Ivy is now considered a definitive document of this particular style, and rare original copies are highly sought after by "trad" devotees worldwide. A small-run reprint came out in Japan in 2006 and sold out almost immediately. Now, for the first time ever, powerHouse is reviving this classic tome with an all-new English translation. Ivy style has never been more popular, in Japan or stateside, proving its timeless and transcendent appeal. Take Ivy has survived the decades and is an essential object for anyone interested in the history or future of fashion.

  • by Winifred (The Nottingham Trent University) Aldrich
    £23.99

    Offers a reference source for the practising designer. This edition includes chapter on computer aided design now has full colour illustrations and reflects the growing importance of CAD to the industry and as a part of fashion and design courses. It is suitable for students of fashion and design.

  • Save 30%
    - The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s
    by Alastair Duncan
    £41.99

    Offers an account of the decorative arts of the Art Deco period. This book celebrates the styles rich variety of form and its diverse international roots as the very factors that make it a perennial favourite of modern collectors and designers.

  • Save 29%
    - Timeless Interiors
    by Axel Vervoordt
    £31.99

    A rare insight into the stunning interiors created by one of the world's leading antiques dealers. Axel Vervoordt's Castle of s'Gravenwezel and his Kanaal gallery in Belgium attract visitors from all over the world. Previous books on Vervoordt have brought the splendid objects on display in these remarkable locations to an even wider audience. In this new work, the great antiques dealer reveals for the first time the other interiors he has created in locations both in Europe and the United States. The extent of Vervoordt's talent is revealed in the unique atmosphere of the twenty-three houses presented in this book. The variety of styles reflects Vervoordt's love of eclecticism, and his authentic and welcoming interiors are inspirational for amateurs and professionals alike. From a Swiss chalet to a Miami mansion or a Bordeaux château,Vervoordt's creations are perfectly in tune with the character and history of each space.

  • Save 21%
    - The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-95
    by Joe Sacco
    £14.99

    In late 1995 and early 1996, cartoonist/reporter Joe Sacco travelled four times to Gorazde, a UN-designated safe area during the Bosnian War, which had teetered on the brink of obliteration for three and a half years.

  • Save 23%
    by Naoto Fukasawa
    £16.99

  • Save 23%
    by Gustave Dore
    £15.49

    Gustave Doré (1832-83) was perhaps the most successful illustrator of the nineteenth century. His Doré Bible was a treasured possession in countless homes, and his best-received works continued to appear through the years in edition after edition. His illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy constitute one of his most highly regarded efforts and were Doré's personal favorites. The present volume reproduces with excellent clarity all 135 plates that Doré produced for The Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. From the depths of hell onto the mountain of purgatory and up to the empyrean realms of paradise, Doré's illustrations depict the passion and grandeur of Dante's masterpiece in such famous scenes as the embarkation of the souls for hell, Paolo and Francesca (four plates), the forest of suicides, Thaïs the harlot, Bertram de Born holding his severed head aloft, Ugolino (four plates), the emergence of Dante and Virgil from hell, the ascent up the mountain, the flight of the eagle, Arachne, the lustful sinners being purged in the seventh circle, the appearance of Beatrice, the planet Mercury, and the first splendors of paradise, Christ on the cross, the stairway of Saturn, the final vision of the Queen of Heaven, and many more. Each plate is accompanied by appropriate lines from the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow translation of Dante's work. Dover (1976) original publication.

  • Save 29%
    - The Complete Illuminated Books
    by David Bindman
    £28.49

    This volume contains every page of Blake's 20 or so illuminated books, reproduced in facsimile. It features his great prophetic poems, for example, "Jersualem" and "Songs of Innocence and of Experience".

  • Save 17%
    by Harold Speed
    £11.99

    Much of the learning to practice as well as to appreciate art is concerned with understanding the basic principles. One of these principles is what Harold Speed calls "dither," the freedom that allows realism and the artistic vision to play against each other. Very important to any artist or work of art, this quality separates the scientifically accurate from the artistically accurate. Speed's approach to this problem is now considered a classic, one of the few books from the early years of this century that has continued to be read and recommended by those in the graphic arts.In this work, Harold Speed approaches this dynamic aspect of drawing and painting from many different points of view. He plays the historical against the scientific, theory against precise artistic definition. He begins with a study of line drawing and mass drawing, the two basic approaches the artist needs to learn. Further sections carry the artistic vision through unity and variety of line and mass, balance, proportion, portrait drawing, the visual memory, materials, and procedures. Throughout, Speed combines historical backgrounds, dynamic aspects which each technique brings to a work of art, and specific exercises through which the young draughtsman may begin his training. Although not a technique book in the strict sense of the terms, The Practice and Science of Drawing brings to the beginner a clear statement of the principles that he will have to develop and their importance in creating a work of art. Ninety-three plates and diagrams, masterfully selected, reinforce Speed's always clear presentation.Harold Speed, master of the art of drawing and brilliant teacher, has long been cited for this important work. For the beginner, Speed will develop a sense for the many different aspects which go into an artistic education. For the person who enjoys looking at drawings and paintings, Speed will aid developing the ability to see a work of art as the artist meant it to be seen.

  • Save 23%
    by Cassandra Clare
    £15.49

    Celebrate the magic of the Mortal Instruments with this gorgeous new Collector's Edition, complete with stunning new cover artwork and a letter from Cassie.A must-have gift for any Shadowhunter fan, revisit the magic with this lavish new hardback edition of City of Glass, featuring new cover art, stunning endpapers and a letter from Cassie.Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downworlders - or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is a mortal sin?

  • Save 14%
    by Brandon Sanderson
    £9.49

  • Save 10%
    by L. J. Smith
    £8.99

    Elena, believing she was helping her boyfriend, Stefan, is tricked by his brother Damon into exchanging blood with him - little realising that this will transform her into a vampire too. Now crazed with her own wild craving for blood, it is up to Stefan to save her - but first he must find a way to end his feud with Damon...

  • Save 14%
    by S. A. Cosby
    £9.49

  • Save 18%
    by Michel Lauricella
    £11.49

    "This small, portable book presents a unique perspective on the head, face, and neck for artists to study and implement in their drawing work. In this book, artist and teacher Michel Lauricella offers more than 300 original drawings and diagrams. The face, head, and neck are shown in great detail and from multiple angles. There are dedicated sections that address facial proportions, the simplified forms underneath the detailed anatomy, the underlying reference points of the skeleton, and the musculature, skin, and fat of the head, face, and neck. The author also offers instruction and tips for drawing hair that will help you in creating successful portraits. Geared toward artists of all levels -- from beginners through professionals -- this handy, pocket-sized book will help spark your imagination and creativity. Whether your interest is in portraiture, figure drawing, fine arts, fashion design, game design, or creating comic book or manga art, you will find this helpful book filled with actionable insights."--

  • Save 24%
    by Henk Schiffmacher
    £18.99

    In den letzten vierzig Jahren hat der legendäre Tätowierkünstler und Historiker Henk Schiffmacher all sein Herzblut in diese Sammlung gesteckt und Originalzeichnungen (in der Branche als Flash bekannt), Lithographien, Radierungen, Tätowierinstrumente, Gemälde, Fotos, Poster, Ladenschilder, Designs und sonstige Artefakte aus aller Welt zusammengetragen - darunter extrem seltene Vintage-Flash-Blätter von bedeutenden Meistern der frühen westlichen Tätowierung. Dieser Band dokumentiert in fünf Kapiteln Schiffmachers Lebenswerk und die weltweite Verbreitung und Vielfalt dieser besonderen Kunstform - darunter Tätowierungen der Maori und der Inselbewohner des Südpazifiks, der alten Traditionen Asiens und der Ursprünge der alten westlichen Schule in Europa und den Vereinigten Staaten. Das Buch, zugleich Geschichtsbuch, Kunstbuch und faszinierendes Memoir, bewegt sich durch über 200 Jahre Tätowiergeschichte von den 1730er bis in die 1970er Jahre und zeigt intime Einblicke in das Leben der Tattoo-Künstler, deren persönliche Kämpfe und Triumphe, ihre beruflichen Risiken und den kreativen Mut, die ihre Geschichte prägten. Abgerundet wird der Band durch ein Dutzend von Schiffmachers Originalillustrationen in seinem unnachahmlichen Stil und eine persönliche Einführung. In diesen privaten Reflexionen beschreibt er seinen Werdegang als Künstler und Sammler sowie die eigene faszinierende Sicht auf den Weg dieser Kunst vom Underground zum Mainstream. Zugleich erfährt man die abenteuerlichen Geschichten rund um die Entstehung seiner Sammlung - einer der größten Tätowierungskollektionen der Welt - aus der Perspektive eines Kenners und Autodidakten, der diese Kunst und ihre Innovatoren wie kaum ein anderer liebt und verehrt. Über die Reihe TASCHEN ist 40! Seit wir im Jahr 1980 unsere Arbeit als kulturelle Schatzgräber aufgenommen haben, steht TASCHEN für erschwingliche, hochwertige und mitunter tollkühne Publikationen. Ob Kunst oder Körperkult - wir machen's möglich, dass sich Buchwürmer auf der ganzen Welt zu unschlagbaren Preisen ihre eigenen Bibliotheken zusammenstellen. Heute feiern wir unseren 40. Geburtstag und bleiben unserem Motto treu: Die 40th Anniversary Edition versammelt einige der Toptitel unseres Programms in smarten Ausgaben - handliches Format, freundlicher Preis und wie immer mit großer Hingabe produziert.

  • Save 14%
    by Mariana Zapata
    £9.49

    From the author of the sensational TikTok-hit, From Lukov with Love, and the 'queen of the slow-burn romance'!

  • Save 14%
    by Mariana Zapata
    £9.49

    From the author of the sensational TikTok-hit, From Lukov with Love, and the 'queen of the slow-burn romance'!

  • Save 26%
    by Roberto Conte
    £19.99

    Containing over 140 exclusive photographs - ranging from private homes to football stadia - across every region of the country, Brutalist Italy is the first publication to focus entirely on this subject.

  • Save 10%
    by Cassandra Clare
    £8.99 - 16.99

  • Save 21%
    by Jane Davenport
    £14.99

    Perfect for aspiring designers,Drawing and Painting Beautiful Faces is an inspiring, mixed-media workbook on how to draw and paint beautiful, fashion illustrationstyle faces. Author Jane Davenport is a beloved artist andinternational workshop instructor known by her thousands of students and fans for her over-the-top, enthusiastic, happy, and encouraging style. In Drawing and Painting Beautiful Faces, Davenport guides you,step by step, through the foundations of drawing a face, developing successful features, creating skin tones, playing with bright colors, shading, highlighting, and much more as you learn to create amazing mixed-media portraits.With this elegantly designed guidebook, you will quickly master a variety of techniques in a variety ofmediums, including:PencilMarkerPenWatercolorAcrylic paintInkPastelEphemeraDrawing and Painting Beautiful Faceswill have youdancingyour way through the exercises.In no time at all, you will have a selection of beautifully faced portraits ready to view, display, or even sell to a fashion designer.

  • Save 27%
    by Paul Davies
    £21.99

    The Art of Assassin's Creed Origins collates hundreds of concept arts, including sketches, final paintings, and 3D Renders, alongside in-depth commentary from the artists and developers, representing the ultimate insight into the design processes behind the game.

  • Save 27%
    by Florian Gadsby
    £21.99

  • Save 24%
    by Richard Dawkins
    £18.99

    From one of the world's great science writers and biologists: a book that reflects on the vast arc of evolutionary history and what it tells us about life on earth.How much do we really know about our past?For centuries, we have yearned to learn more about our ancestors and piece together the story of how we came to be. But language can only record so much. And fossils can be even harder to decipher. We are left groping in the dark, forced to speculate and reconstruct ways of life based on fragments of information.But what if there was a better way?In The Genetic Book of the Dead, Richard Dawkins explores the untapped potential of DNA to transform and transcend our understanding of evolution. In the future, a zoologist presented with a hitherto unknown animal will be able to read its body and its genes as detailed descriptions of the world its ancestors inhabited. This 'book of the dead' would uncover the remarkable ways in which animals have overcome obstacles, adapted to their environments and, again and again, developed remarkably similar ways of finding solutions to life's problems. What biologists call ?convergent evolution', the way in which species separated by vast stretches of time have evolved surprisingly recognisable forms and functions, is one of the most powerful and least understood forces driving life on earth.From the bestselling author of The Selfish Gene comes a revolutionary book that unlocks the door to a past more vivid, nuanced and fascinating than anything we have ever seen.

  • Save 21%
    by Krista Ritchie
    £13.49

    "The TikTok sensation Addicted Series continues with Kiss the Sky, now in a print edition with special bonus material! Fall in love with Rose and Connor in this edgy new adult romance set in a world of lust, fame, swoonworthy men, and friendships that run deeper than blood in this special edition with bonus materials-in print only! A virgin "ice queen" heiress & the arrogant god who wants to melt her... Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she's a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But not everything comes easy. When Rose's fashion line is in peril, she plans an unconventional solution to save it. Making matters more intense, she agrees to be in a relationship with her "godly" college rival, Connor Cobalt. At twenty-four, Connor Cobalt bulldozes weak men. Confident and smart-as-hell, Connor vows to help Rose outside of the bedroom and inside. But melting this ice queen is a challenge no one has been able to succeed at. And now they're living together"--

  • Save 10%
    by Lucy Score
    £8.99

    Things We Hide From The Light is a captivating novel penned by the talented Lucy Score. Published by Hodder And Stoughton Ltd in 2023, this book is a must-read for all book lovers. The genre of this book is a well-guarded secret, much like the things we hide from the light. The story unfolds with a mesmerizing narrative that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. Lucy Score, with her unique storytelling, brings the characters to life, making the reader feel a part of their journey. This book is not just a piece of fiction; it's an experience that stays with you long after you've finished reading. If you're looking for a book that will make you think, feel, and question, Things We Hide From The Light is the one for you. Published by the renowned Hodder And Stoughton Ltd, this book is a testament to Lucy Score's brilliance as an author. Don't miss out on this literary gem.

  • Save 16%
    by Ken Hultgen
    £10.49

  • by Jennifer L. Armentrout
    £18.99 - 25.49

  • Save 27%
    by Martin Salisbury
    £21.99

  • Save 23%
    by V. E. Schwab
    £15.49

    The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Special Edition 'Illustrated Anniversary' is a mesmerising piece of literature penned by the acclaimed author, V. E. Schwab. Published in 2022 by Bloomsbury UK, this book transcends the barriers of genre to offer readers an immersive experience. It's a captivating blend of fantasy and historical fiction that will transport you to a world beyond your imagination. With Schwab's masterful storytelling and unique perspective, the book serves as a testament to her prowess as a writer. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is not just a book; it's an adventure that unfolds with every turn of the page. This special edition is enhanced with illustrations that bring the story to life, making it a collector's item for book lovers. Don't miss out on this literary masterpiece from Bloomsbury UK.

Architecture

Our selection of cultural books also include architecture books. If you are fascinated by beautiful or memorable buildings we have the books for you. 

Architecture is the art form everyone is in contact with everyday. We move across a wide variety of buildings everytime we go out the door. Schools, work spaces, museums and even your own home is a form of architecture. Some buildings however have that extra effect on you. They make you shop and wonder, and most importantly they are products of their time. They are part of our history and tell the story of the time they were made. Some architects also go beyond that creating something never seen before and these are the buildings that we remember and they might even become attractions or landmarks like the beloved Eiffeltower in the city of lights.   

You could also get inspired as an architect or architectural student yourself. The architecture books invite you into the process of making a building out of the ordinary. If you are interested in sustainability you could also find architecture books about that. In the last couple of years we have also seen an increase in sustainable architecture, where materials are reused or alternative and good for our planet. They are the buildings of the future. 

We also have a collection of garden architecture books. In recent years open air spaces have been desired especially in the big cities, where fewer and fewer have access to a garden or park. Therefore we need innovative ways of finding new green areas in the cities also in order to be sustainable. For that matter we need to plant more trees and have nature surrounding us both for our planet, but also for the wellbeing of ourselves. Find ideas for new kinds of creating just that in our selection of architecture books. 



Fashion and design

Everyone wants to be stylish, and in our selection of design and fashion books you can get inspired by some of the best style icons and designers in the world. You can get that extra tip that will help you become the most stylish person in the room or one of the new style icons of Instagram.  Whether it’s about interior or clothes you will find it all among our fashion books and design books.

Fashion is a way of showing who you are. The way you dress reflects your personality and it is a way of showing how you feel or wants to feel that day, although it can be difficult to mix your outfit in the right way, and that is where the fashion books can help. Another wonderful thing about the fashion and design books is that they look stylish in themselves, and they will look gorgeous as a coffee table book. They add that extra level of style to your furnishing, and you display all your knowledge about fashion. So that is why you find the most beautiful and cool fashion books for decor at Tales. 

In our selection you find the popular fashion book In Paris by the French Instagram it-girl Jeanne Damas and Lauren Bastide. In the book they try to cover the secrets of the parisienne; who she is, what she wears and where she is heading. The fashion book contains interviews with 20 of the most inspiring French women from the city of light, and concludes that being a parisienne is not just about how you look and dress, but a way of life. 

If you yourself dream of having a designer carriere, you could also find fashion books for designing in Tales’ selection of culture books. Get the perfect guide to sewing, draping, and picking patterns for your next stylish creation. 

If you need inspiration to renew your furnishing you could - in addition to selecting a stylish book among our fashion books for coffee tables - also find design books about that. They help you pick the most tasteful furniture on the market and most importantly how to style them, and you could end up with the most wonderful interior in your own house. 


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